Shepherd, Elizabeth (1793-1853)

Transcription of obituary published in the Primitive Methodist Magazine by Thomas Shepherd

Mrs. ELIZABETH SHEPHERD was born, January 7th, 1793, at Clayton Heights, near Bradford, Yorkshire. While young, she was steady in her conduct and attentive to the means of grace; but she did not obtain peace with God until she was in her twenty-fifth year,—about four years after our marriage. From her conversion to the day of her death she stood fast in the faith, uniformly maintaining a good conscience.

She was a great lover of peace, and was regular in her attendance at the means of grace. In one part of her Christian career, she lived more than two miles from the place where she met in class, yet for more than ten years neither darkness nor severe weather ever kept her from attending the meeting.

She was liberal in supporting the cause of God, giving as the Lord had prospered her.

When I was a town missionary in Hull, she was seized with the cholera in one of its worst forms, so that the doctor said her recovery was impossible; but God heard our prayers and restored her, though she never recovered her former strength.

About twenty weeks before her death she was seized with a dreadful cough, which deprived her of rest, and reduced her to great weakness. On Sunday, February 6th, 1853, she appeared a little better; but in the afternoon she was taken worse. On the following day, my kind friend, Mr. Emerson, the circuit steward thought it necessary to send for me home. On arriving, I found an inflammation had taken place, which could not be arrested. Her sufferings were great, but she murmured not. She often quoted the Scriptures, and recited verses of our hymns.

One day I mentioned her long and strong attachment to the cause of God, when she replied, “That is all nothing. It is all Jesus; it is all Jesus. He is all and in all. I could lay myself down in the street to be trampled on, if it would bring honour to his name. Bless him! He is precious! It’s all glory! It’s all glory!” Afterwards a mortification took place, and she slept herself away. Thus died my dear wife on the 10th day of February, 1853, aged sixty years.

Family

Elizabeth was born on 7 January 1793 at Clayton Heights, Bradford, Yorkshire.

She married Thomas Shepherd (1792-1864), a PM minister. Census returns identify one child.

• Henry (1827-1886) – a painter & lead crusher (1851); painter employing 1 man (1861)

Elizabeth died on 10 February 1853 at Grimsby, Yorkshire.

I have not been able to identify a marriage for Thomas and Elizabeth to determine her maiden name. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

References

Primitive Methodist Magazine 1853/378

Census Returns and Births, Marriages & Deaths Registers